body {
font-family: ‘Inter’, sans-serif;
}
.hero-bg-dram-shop {
background-color: #1a233b; /* Dark blue static color */
}
.section-title {
border-bottom: 3px solid #c41e3a;
padding-bottom: 0.5rem;
display: inline-block;
}
McAllen and San Antonio Dram Shop & Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
We hold bars and restaurants responsible when they illegally over-serve a patron who then causes a drunk driving accident. We fight for victims in Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and the Rio Grande Valley.
What is a Dram Shop Claim?
In Texas, a drunk driver is responsible for the harm they cause, but they may not be the only liable party. Dram Shop Law allows victims to also hold an alcohol-serving establishment (like a bar, restaurant, or liquor store) financially responsible if they served alcohol to a patron who was already “obviously intoxicated.”
Proving this requires swift and skilled investigation to secure evidence before it disappears. Injury Attorney Chris Sanchez knows how to build these complex cases, whether the accident happened after a night out in downtown Austin or was caused by a driver leaving a bar in the RGV.
How We Prove a Bar Was Negligent:
- ✓ Obtaining security and surveillance footage.
- ✓ Interviewing eyewitnesses, bartenders, and servers.
- ✓ Analyzing credit card receipts and bar tabs.
- ✓ Checking for a history of TABC violations by the establishment.
Pursuing All Avenues for Your Recovery
A Dram Shop claim is a separate personal injury lawsuit filed in addition to a claim against the drunk driver. This is crucial because it creates another source of potential compensation for your catastrophic injuries.
Claim Against the Drunk Driver
We will pursue the at-fault driver’s auto insurance policy for the full limits of their coverage.
Claim Against the Establishment
We will file a Dram Shop lawsuit against the bar or restaurant’s commercial liability insurance policy.
Our Texas Law Offices
From our offices in McAllen, San Antonio, and Houston, we provide local, dedicated representation with the resources of a statewide firm, ready to fight for victims of drunk driving accidents across Texas.
Contact a Texas Dram Shop Lawyer Today
Evidence in a Dram Shop case disappears quickly. It is critical to contact an attorney immediately to preserve security footage and witness testimony. Contact us now for a 100% free and confidential consultation.
Texas Dram Shop & Drunk Driver Accident Law
In Texas, a drunk driver accident lawyer can pursue two types of claims after an alcohol-related crash: a personal injury claim against the drunk driver AND a dram shop liability claim against the bar, restaurant, or social host that over-served them. This dual-track approach maximizes your recovery.
Under the Texas Dram Shop Act (Tex. Alco. Bev. Code § 2.02), a licensed alcohol provider can be held liable if they served alcohol to a person who was obviously intoxicated and that intoxication caused an accident resulting in injury or death. This applies to bars, restaurants, liquor stores, and even private social hosts under § 2.03.
Statute of Limitations for Drunk Driver Accident Claims
Texas gives victims two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit against a drunk driver under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003. Dram shop claims against establishments have the same two-year limit. In cases involving fatalities, the wrongful death statute of limitations also applies under § 71.002. Do not wait — evidence of intoxication (bar tabs, surveillance footage, receipts) disappears quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions — Drunk Driver Accident Claims in Texas
What is a drunk driver accident lawyer?
A drunk driver accident lawyer is a personal injury attorney who represents victims of DWI and DUI accidents. In Texas, this means pursuing claims against the intoxicated driver AND potentially against the establishment that served them alcohol under the Texas Dram Shop Act (Tex. Alco. Bev. Code § 2.02). Chris Sanchez handles both claim types to maximize compensation for accident victims in McAllen and statewide.
What is the Texas Dram Shop Act?
The Texas Dram Shop Act (Tex. Alco. Bev. Code § 2.02) holds bars, restaurants, and alcohol retailers liable when they serve alcohol to a person who was obviously intoxicated and that person later causes an accident. Providers can also be liable for serving alcohol to a minor under § 2.02(b). This gives accident victims an additional source of compensation beyond the drunk driver’s auto insurance.
Can I sue both the drunk driver and the bar that served them?
Yes. In Texas, you can file claims against both the intoxicated driver and the licensed establishment under the Dram Shop Act. This is particularly important when the drunk driver has minimal insurance coverage. Bars and restaurants typically carry commercial liability insurance with higher policy limits. Chris Sanchez investigates all potential defendants to maximize your recovery.
How much is a drunk driving accident case worth in Texas?
Drunk driving accident cases often result in higher settlements than typical car accident cases because juries and insurance companies respond strongly to DWI negligence. You can recover medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and in cases of gross negligence, exemplary (punitive) damages under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 41.003 — which can be up to two times the economic damages plus $750,000 or two times all damages, whichever is greater.
What should I do immediately after being hit by a drunk driver in Texas?
Call 911 immediately so police arrive and document the driver’s intoxication in an official report. Request a breathalyzer or blood test be administered. Get medical attention even if you feel fine. Photograph the scene. Note the name of the bar or restaurant the driver came from if known. Contact a Texas drunk driver accident attorney before speaking to any insurance company.
What if the drunk driver was uninsured?
If the at-fault driver has no insurance, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage may apply. A dram shop claim against the establishment may provide additional recovery. Chris Sanchez explores every available source of compensation to ensure drunk driving victims are not left with unpaid bills.
.cities-grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(180px, 1fr)); gap: .75rem; margin: 1rem 0 2rem; }
.cities-grid a { display: block; background: #f5f5f5; border: 1px solid #ddd; border-radius: 6px; padding: .6rem 1rem; text-decoration: none; color: #1a1a1a; font-weight: 600; font-size: .95rem; transition: background .2s; }
.cities-grid a:hover { background: #D4A843; color: #111; }
.county-label { font-size: .8rem; font-weight: bold; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: .05em; color: #888; margin: 1.5rem 0 .4rem; }
Cities We Serve in the Rio Grande Valley
Chris Sanchez handles cases throughout South Texas. He litigates regularly in Hidalgo, Cameron, and Starr County District Courts. No matter where your accident happened in the Rio Grande Valley, we can help.